Four new strikers is too many

[Simply red]

Strand Larsen - 1.93m
Matt Hoppe - 1.91m
Rodrigo Muniz - 1.85m
Vic Gyokores - 1.87m
Looks like we are going for physicality , youth and pace this time , Conelly , Balogun , Watmore , Sporar offered less , especially no airial threat .
I can’t see us getting Larsen and Vic , maybe a cheaper version of Vic could come in ?

 

[DidsburySmog92]

I think it is about the type of forward CW wants. He seems to like the type that get on the end of things coming in from the WBs. I think Forss, Larson/Henry type, Muniz are all in that mould.

But if we do end up getting Hannibal or similar with Crooks able to play through the middle too then an option like Hoppe playing through the middle but can drift out to the wing to support the centre can work too. So that is 4 new forwards on the basis that Watmore (knee is failing), Akpom (although did well at the weekend), Uche (as good as gone) all leave.

The big question for me would be Josh. He is great at getting on the end of crosses. I guess he needs regular game time but I would like to see him be used as rotation this season. But loan looking likely.

I think we are in such desperate need for a striker who will bury the type of chances that Watmore missed on Saturday that it can only give us momentum.

 

[Jedi boro]

Re OP not when we have none to start with.

I agree it’s not ideal but what choice do we have.

Btw I’d say Watford have a pretty high striker turnover rate.

 

[indeedido]

The club had 3 strikers on loan last season and none were good enough.
Duncan is a grand lad, has done us proud, but has obvious fitness and finishing limitations.
Josh is a young lad who has real potential, but can only be a bench option; or should go out on loan for development.
To go up we need to recruit another 3 very good forwards, given we have signed a prospect in Forss.
They may need time to gel together, but there is no alternative, as what we had and have is miles off being good enough.

There has been very little disruption elsewhere from a first team perspective.
We have a huge upgrade at Goalkeeper, already making a difference.
We have strengthened already at central defence, even before a LCB may come in.
We have strengthened the wingbacks hugely and only lost one member of the first team behind the blank firing strikers.
The players we have moved on (exc Tav) were fringe/cover, not fancied by Wilder or just not good enough. They do not impact the first team and losing them is not a disruption.

Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Jones, Howson, Crooks, McGree, Bola remain as a good core. Lenihan, Giles and Steffen are very good recruits.
Smith, Roberts, McGree, Forss, Watmore offer good bench cover.

We just need to sign and integrate the right five or six more signings to complete the first team and squad.
3 good forwards, 2 good midfielders and a Left footed centre back would be perfect.
We still have 3 loan places to fill and am sure we will do.
So we need to permanently sign 3 more players.

The squad turnover is always big outside the PL, such is the nature of player contracts these days and the importance of loans.
The quality of the Manager and the recruitment will determine who turns their squad most effectively.
I think we are frustratingly close to getting it right.

 

[BoroMart]

3 good forwards, 2 good midfielders and a Left footed centre back would be perfect.

considering the winter break can we get away with just 2 quality forwards until January? It's still 25 games, but, that 2 week break will allow knocks and niggles to settle down. We could utilise McGree as a 10 (if we get 2 quality CMers), and keep Akpom or Coburn until Jan?

I'd prefer 3 of course, but not sure it'll be a disaster to just get 2.

 

[Nano]

When you play with 2 strikers, it's a lot easier, I think.

Add to that there are now 5 subs.

It's not ideal to try and bring in and bed in 3-4 new strikers, but I don't think we have much of a choice.

Having 4 or more strikers can be a good thing. Instead of being despondent from being left out they can see it as a challenge to impress when they get their regular chance. Start scoring goals and you'll keep your place. Couldn't be simpler.

Wilder talks about attitude a lot and this is the sort of thing he means. He wants people fighting for their place in the team. Nothing worse than players that get complacent and stop putting effort in.

 

[indeedido]

considering the winter break can we get away with just 2 quality forwards until January? It's still 25 games, but, that 2 week break will allow knocks and niggles to settle down. We could utilise McGree as a 10 (if we get 2 quality CMers), and keep Akpom or Coburn until Jan?

I'd prefer 3 of course, but not sure it'll be a disaster to just get 2.

I'd agree if they were a cracking two.
Gyokeres signed and Armstrong or Muniz on loan for example.

At the moment they all seem on the horizon and very blurry.
We do need the CM's urgenlty I agree and you make a good point about the WC and Jan. Our recent Jan history has been disastrous mind.

 

[Soutra]

If Boro's approach is to sign young unheralded players and try to mould them into stars, the reality is that at least half of them won't make it. So sign as many as the budget allows and start sifting right away.

Nothing seems to be happening at the moment and the season has already started so something needs to be done.

 

[BoroMart]

Our recent Jan history has been disastrous mind.

Yes we might need a Gaston and Branca January, not a Ricketts and Guediura one if we're gonna get over the line.

 

[jonny_greenings_sock]

When we went up under Karanka we changed 3 out of 4 strikers from the year previous. Bamford, Tomlin, Vossen out; Nugent, Stuani in. By Jan Kike had gone and Rhodes came in.

I don't think it matters as long as you are getting the players you want and the manager wants them.

I get the feeling that last Jan Wilder was so desperate for something he just took whatever was on offer and had to make do. Hopefully this time he gets players he actually wants.

Yeah, I did think of that team - and Robbo’s promotion season, when we signed Branca, Armstrong and Ricard in February - but the rest of the team was rock solid both times, the strikers were a tweak.

This time we’re swapping all the strikers, plus Lenihan, plus Steffen, plus Giles, plus new Tav. Just not sure that’s a good recipe, but not much we can do about it, there’s no alternative.